Ironing board



July 15, 1941. G. BROWNING 2,249,110

IRONIN G BOARD Filed March 1, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 in the home.

Patented July 15, 1941 UNITED STATES [FATE NT oFFIC T RONING BOARD George Browning, Wilmette, Ill. Application March 1, 1939, Serial No. 259,081 I 2 Claims. (01, 38-104) some of it escaping into the atmosphere and some entering the cold pad where it condenses, withthe result that the pad or covering over part of the board becomes moisture laden to a greater or lesser degree depending on the kind the application of such an ironing board structure either as an attachment to an ordinary ironing board 'or as a complete assembly having its own means ofsupport such as the usual folding legs; to provide a heated ironing board having a relatively thin sheet metal, base. heated for the purpose described and reinforced on its under side by ribs or the like to provide a flat and rigid work supporting surface, this embodi-.

ment being preferable as a complete structure as distinguished from an embodiment for the application to an,.ordinary ironing board; and to provide an improved ironing board structure which may .be economically produced and which will serve in a'satisfactory manner the purposes intended.

of work being ironed and the initial moisture content thereof. As a consequence, the time and physical effort required for ironing depends to a considerable degree on the elimination of thismoisture in order to complete the ironing operation with the article in a smooth and dry condition.

V .One of the objects of my invention is to provide an improved ironing board designed toenable ironing in less time and with less physical effort than heretofore.

- My invention contemplates broadly as one of its objects the provision of means for heating the ironing board substantially uniformly throughout its working area, whereby to aid in evaporating the moisture at all portions of the working surface and to render more effective the localized ironing action of the heated iron.

Other objects: and attendant advantages will be appreciated by those skilled in this art asthe invention becomes better understood by reference to the following description when considered in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top view of an ironing board embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross section through the ironing board taken substantially onthe section line 22 of Fig. 1;

- I Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan section taken substantially on the section line H of Fig. 2;

4 isfa side elevation'of the embodiment shown in preceding figures, with the supporting j legs attached;

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved ironing board heated electrically, and to this end I have disclosed herein several embodiments which promote greater efiiciency in time and effort for ironing.

Among the further objects of board characterized by a thin sheet ofaluminum or other material of high heat conductivity serving as a ,supporting base for the pad or my invention are to provide an electrically heated ironing Figs. 5 and 6 are top and bottom views of a modified form of my invention;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken sub-- stantially on the section line 'l-[ of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view of a further modification.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, I have shown an electrically heated ironing board applied to the supporting or base board ll of an ordinary ironing board. The

- board II in turn is supported by the usual foldironing cover, together with an electric element arranged to heat said aluminum sheet in such manner as to effect substantially uniform distribution oL-heat to the said ironing pad or cover throughout its working area; to provide an ironing pad or cover combined with an electrically heated supporting base of thin sheet metal having high heat conductivity to. eiiectively serve the purposes desired; to provide .for

ing legs l2, or any suitable means. This board H has the shape characteristics common to the ordinary ironing board in general use in homes, consisting of a main body portion of greater length than width, tapering at one end, the major, working .portion of the board being of substantial width to accommodate the ironing of larger pieces and the tapered end being adapted for ironing special pieces, as is well understood in the art.

My invention contemplates the provision of a heated ironing boardor. Pad structure adapted out such area.

to be supported directly upon a board such as I I,

or to be otherwisesupported, as described hereinafter. My improved board structure preferably conforms to the general shape of the board II, as shown in Figure 1. In this connection it will be noted that while ironing boards in general use vary to some extent in respect to length, width, and taper, it is my purpose to provide an improved board structure of such shape and dimensions as to be most universally applicable and to provide special sizes wherever necessary.

In the preferred embodiment herein illustrated, I have provided a sheet 1'3 of thin aluminum, or other metal of high heat conductivity. which serves as a base or support for an ironing cover.

In this instance the ironing cover comprises a pad ll of fibrous material or the like, and a fabspread on the ironing board and the heated iron is worked back and forth, the moisture content of the piece will be expelled and evaporated by the joint action of the heated iron and the heated board. It will be observed that as a result of the higher temperature of the iron and its action on the dampened piece being ironed, moisture will be expelled therefrom'into the padded portion of .the board and will be subject to the heat thereof and quickly converted into vapor, thus avoiding the collection of moisture in the ironing padvor cover common to the prior practice. Also, by

' reason of the heated board or cover, the localized ric ironing cloth IS, the parts Ill and It being of the size and shape above described for coverin the top of the board 'H and the fabric sheet 15 being of'such size as to permit of its marginal portions 16 being drawn down around the sides of the board II and inwardly over the bottom so that they may be drawn taut and held inthis condition. In this instance, a cord I1 is used to lace or draw together the marginal edges of the sheet l5 to retain this sheet as well as the pad I and the heated sheet IS in working position on the board I l. The sheet I3 is heated electrically by means arranged 'toapply the heat substantially throughout the working area of the ironingv board, and in such manner as to obtain substantially uniform distribution of heat through- In this instance, resistance wire I! is arrange in a circuitous path on a sheet is of asbestos or other insulation material and is secured thereon at the turns by wire staples 2|. Sheets 22 and 23 of similar insulation are applied to the toP- and bottom, respectively, of. the sheet It, thus serving to insulate the heating element from the aluminum sheet It. This aluminum sheet constitutes a protective sheath or part of such a sheath, as the case may be, for the insulated heating element.

In this particular embodiment, a second aluminum sheet 24 is applied to the bottom of the insulated heating element, and the marginal edges 25 of the top sheet It are turned downwardly 'under the bottom sheet 24 and clamped thereto s6 as to bind together the aluminum and asbestos sheets in the manner shown. The insulated heating element is thus encased in an aluminum sheath; The terminal ends 28 and 21 of the heating element lead into an insulation block 28 and connect to the current supply wires 3|. The block 28 is preferably of rubber molded to T-shape so as to fill the space between the top and bottom aluminum sheets, as shown in Fig, 2,

. and provide strain-relief lugs 2| seating against the narrow upright wall portion of the sheet II. The molded block is also shaped to provide -a casing 32 for the lead wires, which casing extends I substantially from the heating unit and provides an effective anti-kink device.

Before starting to iron, electric currentis caused to pass through the elementto'heat the.

pad I4 and the cover ll through the intermediary of the thin heat distribution sheet l8. Current of comparatively low wattage. is continuously supplied throughout the ironing p ration, although the current s pply may be varied in heat of the iron is more effectively utilized in the smoothing function because less heat'is lost in dispelling moisture. This is particularly advanquired. The thin aluminum sheet ,functions toprovide quick distribution of heat byreason of its high thermal conductivity and promotes uniform heat transfer tending to keep the entire' pad or working cover at substantially uniform temperature. Also, it providesprotection against damage and mechanical abuse, and it further. provides protection against electrical shock and prevents pins and other sharp objects from penetrating to the element. It will be further manifest that my invention provides an ironing surface or body which takes care of irregularities in the work piece, such for example asseams and buttons, that it serves to quickly p l an! moi!- ture driven into the surface as a result of the ironing operation, and that it also provides for quick and substantially uniform distribution of heat to the working area.

In Figs. 5, 6, and 7 I have shown a modified form of my invention, in which the underside ofjthe heating unit is supported and reinforced 'by a series of ribs or panels. In the particular embodiment shown, these ribs are in the form of angle iron or channel bars 33, suitably arranged on the underside of the heating unit to give rigid support to the latter and prevent sagging and deflection thereof at intermediate points, and to reinforce and strengthen the structure. 'Ihe panels II, or the equivalent, may be fastened to the underside of the heating unit by any suitable means, such, for example, as bolts I4 and rivets any suitable manner tomaintain the pad and the cover heated throughout the ironing operation.

at, the bolts passing entirely through the heating unit and the rivets being fastened only to the lowermost sheet. The heating unit here shown is similar to that above described, comprising top and bottom aluminum sheets I! and 24 and insulation sheets ll, 22, and 23, together with a heating element ll, except that in the present embodiment the marginal portions of the top sheet I! are extended to provide a marginal apron extending beneath the channels 88-, asshown in Fig. 7. The apron II is intended to serve as a support forthe heated ironing board where the latter is placed on stable top orthe like, and it may also serve to confine the heated ir oning board in'positlori on a board ll of the general type above described, the latter instance being illustrated in Fig. '7. Here, the board II is oflesswidththantheheatedironingboard. The

Thus, when a dampened pieoefto be ironed is" ironingcovermaybeofanysuitable or preferred construction, and I have here shown a fibrous pad I4 and a fabric ironing cover I! similar to the corresponding parts above described. In this embodiment as well as in that first described, the

ironing cover is removable from its position on 5 the heating unit for the purpose of repair and replacement, and it also serves to hold the heated ironing board structure in position on the ordinary board II when so applied. This is attained by making the marginal portions I6 of 10 suillcient length and drawing them taut under the board by suitable means, such as a cord H. In this form the heating unit which provides the flat supporting surface for the pad or ironing cover may be of comparatively thin section, and

this thin section is reinforced and supported in such manner as to maintain its top surface flat and free from deflection regardless of whether or not the unit is supported on a. board such as H, and regardless of irregularities in the surface of any such supporting means. In

this form the channeled structure also provides a heat insulation space at the underside of the heating unit.

In the embodiment Fig. 5, I have shown an electrical connection .or terminal box designated generally by 31, having current supply wires-38 leading to the heating element through the intermediary of a suitable switch, the lever of which is shown at 39, and having a socket connection for a terminal plug ll to which the sad-iron is attached. The switch is arranged for cutting oi! the ironing board heating element from the sad-iron connection, at will.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 8 is similar to 3 unit which constitutes the ironing board top is reinforced marginally by channel irons 42, or the equivalent, and interiorly by channel irons 33, or the equivalent, and the entire structure is carried on suitable legs which may be of the folding type commonly used with" ironing boards. 4

The ironing pad or cover has been omitted from this view, and it will be understood that a pad or. cover structure is to be applied in any suitable manner to complete the ironing board. It will be manifest from the foregoing that my invention provides an improved ironing board characterized by a thin metallic sheet of high.

thermal conductivity suitably heated and serving to support the ironing cover andto heat the same preferably throughout its working area as a means of enabling ironing in less time and with less physical effort than with prior constructions. It will also be apparent that my invention in the embodiment herein shownfor purpose of illustration is characterized by. a heat distribution sheet, such as described, constituting part of an electrical heating unit, and that in this embodiment the heat distribution sheet serves as a sheath to protect the element against damage and mechanical abuse, and also as a protection against electrical shock which might otherwise be occasioned by the penetration of pins and other sharp objects. My invention may theretensive therewith and serving to directly support the ironing cover and to provide the ironing base therefor, said unit comprising a sheath having a top sheet of metal of high heat conductivity and sheets of electrical insulation material superimposed one upon another making a comparatively' thin structure, and an electrical heating element in said sheath comprising resistance wire electrically insulated from the sheath by said insulation material and arranged in a circuitous path throughout substantially the entire area of said ironing base whereby to quickly transmit heat substantially uniformly throughout said area, said unit as such being replaceable on said board and adapted to conform to the topthereof f by means of the flexible characteristic of the thin sheet structure of the unit and atthe same time providing a smooth impervious ironing base for the ironing cover.

2. An electric ironing board as set forthin claim 1, in which the resistance wire is stapled to a sheet of insulation material and the wire as well as the staples are-insulated by a sheet of said insulation material placed on the top and another on the bottom of the wire carrying sheet,

GEORGE BROWNING. 

